ST. PETER’S PARISH POST
JULY 2010
“Listening to one another with Love”
Greetings to the entire church family and to the friends of St Peters!
After a long process, your Search Committee and Vestry have chosen me to come be with you, beginning August 1, 2010, as your Deacon-in-Charge. I have just graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary and was ordained into the transitional diaconate on June 5, 2010. Coming to be with St Peter’s marks the culmination of a lifelong dream and a very long journey that began early in my life—the call to serve God as an ordained person in the church. I feel incredibly blessed that I am now going to begin this next leg of the journey with you as my companions. We will have many new, interesting and exciting adventures together as we step out in faith, trusting that God will guide us as we enter this new phase in the life of St Peter’s.
I will serve you as a Deacon until sometime in December, when I will be ordained as a priest and become your Priest-in-Charge. I am looking forward to getting to know all of you. I want to hear your stories, learn about your concerns, your thoughts, your particular gifts, and your dreams for the church. You may want to know about me as well. I am looking forward to sharing my story with you, and I welcome any questions you will have for me in the months ahead.
I believe that we are all in the process of becoming who we are and growing throughout our lives. This process is what makes our lives so interesting, so full of joy, and at times so full of heartache and frustrations. Becoming who we are, if we are serious about growing, is difficult. That’s where God comes in. God is with us in our journeys through life as we work together to grow up into Christ. One thing we will do together is be intentional about looking for God’s hand at work in our individual lives as well in as our life together as a church. When we recognize that God is with us in our journey together, our joys will be even more wonderful, and our difficult times will be easier to bear.
As a pastor, I consider myself a fellow traveler with you. I relish being with people who have a diversity of viewpoints and perspectives. I believe that it is in the graciousness of holding these differences together in love that we find that the Holy Spirit is truly at work in our lives together. My goal for us is to be able to speak honestly with one another about what we believe, to listen with compassion and openness to our companions, and then to look together for the Holy Spirit at work in our midst, remembering that Jesus himself, who lived a life of love and compassion, is the ultimate authority on the many issues with which we struggle.
I hope we will begin this journey together by listening to one another with love and compassion, so that we can best use the many gifts that God has given each of us to carry out God’s work in the world.
Peace,
Catherine Hicks
Will Your Name Become Part of the Written St. Peter’s History?
(All quotes below as recorded in the book “Hidden Village” by Ralph Emmett Fall)
It has to do with the ringing of the bell at our church where it is an old tradition. It began when a gentleman from New York and Fredericksburg, Mr. Silas Wood, in the year 1836, donated the first bell to St. Peter’s Church. Bishop Richard Channing Moore tells of the Consecration of St. Peter’s Church:
“On Sunday, May 1, 1836 I went to Port Royal at which place I consecrated a new Church:
a building which is a great ornament to the town, and reflects the greatest credit upon
those by whose munificence it has been erected, and which, I trust, will prove a blessing
to them and to their children to their latest posterity. The congregation was very large
and attentive during the whole service. Prayers were read by several of the clergy who
attended on the occasion – the discourse was delivered by myself – the Sacrament of the
Lord’s Supper was administered –I baptized three children and confirmed two persons. It
gives me the greatest pleasure to mention that a very handsome large silver cup was pre-
sented for the use of the altar, by a benevolent gentleman in the Parish; and I have every
reason to believe that the sound of an organ will soon accompany the voices of the congre-
gation in singing the praises of God and of the Redeemer of mankind. The Rev. ( William)
Friend stands high in the estimation of his parish and I trust will see the work of the Lord
prosper under his pastoral care. As an expression of gratitude to some of the benevolent
inhabitants of the city of New York, it is with pleasure I inform, that on the application of
Mr. (Robert) Hord, a gentleman to whom the Church in Port Royal is very much indebted
for his exertions, for assistance to enable the friends of the Church in Port Royal to finish
the work they had undertaken, one of the citizens of New York (Mr. Silas Wood) presented
him withan excellent bell; while a number of others united in a gift of several hundred dollars.”
Bishop William Meade reported his first experience at Port Royal:
“On entering Port Royal, a handsome village on the Rappahannock River, we behold a new
and very beautiful brick church, which reflects great credit upon the zeal and liberality of
those who contributed to its erection, and on the taste of those who planned it. It is at once
an ornament and a blessing to the place. During the two days spent in Port Royal, a large
number of individuals and families from the country around, added to those in the place,
crowded the house. The doors were thrown open four times each day: at six o’clock in the
morning, at eleven, at four, and again at night. On Sunday, baptism was administered to
one adult and several children, and the rite of confirmation to four. During all the time, the
attendants seemed to say, ‘Is it not good to be here?’”
On December 26, 1849 a great fire engulfed our church. A news-clipping gave the following account:
“The Burning of the Episcopal Church in Port Royal. Yesterday morning, the birthday of our
Saviour, dawned upon our village, and awakened all those joyful and hallowed associations
which cluster around a day so sacred to the memories of a world redeemed. The Episcopal
Church bell was heard calling the inhabitants together to commemorate, by divine service,
a day hailed by millions as marking the return of that event from which spring all their hopes
of a blessed immortality. A most able and appropriate sermon was preached by our minister,
and each one returned to his home, to enjoy those feelings of social gladness which are called
up by the season. The night is passed, and morning comes; but it comes not in its usual way,
breathing tranquility over our village. The alarm of fire is heard, and soon it is known that the
Episcopal Church is burning. Already the flames have advanced too far to leave even a hope
for its safety. With terrible rapidity they spread over the roof, and reach the steeple, and
soon its beautiful proportions are wrapt in one sheet of consuming fire. Language cannot
convey the awful grandeur of the scene, or describe the consternation and distress depicted
upon the faces of all, as they gather around the ruins of that building, which had so much
adorned our town, and in which so many hade worshipped their Maker.
But a gleam of hope breaks through the gloom, with which this misfortune has covered us,
and illumes and cheers our hearts with the belief, that our Church will rise from its ashes
with increased beauty and usefulness. Exertions are being made to procure and requisite funds for its erection – and will not a calamity like this touch the hearts, and find an answering
chord in the bosoms of all blessed with liberal and religious feelings? Surely it will. May we not
feel assured that our Church will soon be seen beautifying our village, and shedding a holy
influence over our community? Let us, then, build it up, and raise solemnly, pointing the way
to Heaven.”
The war years, 1861-1865, are best described by William Friend:
“A large proportion of the congregation has removed to different portions of the State in
consequence of the exposed situation of their homes. The Parish has been completely
devastated. The destitution of the people has been such, that many families once wealthy
can now hardly procure their daily bread – of course it has been impossible for them to
contribute anything forchurch purposes. The records of the church have been carried off
by the Yankee spoilers.”
Then, in 1865 he writes the following:
“The families of the congregation who had been scattered over the State, have nearly all
returned to their desolated homes. The attendance upon the services of the Church is now
nearly as large as ever. There has been no marked change in the spiritual state of the Church,
save that of an increased and earnest attendance upon her service. The village Sunday School
in Port Royal has been revived under very hopeful auspices.”
On July 6, 1868 lightning struck the St. Peter’s Church steeple and again caused great damage. Necessary repairs were made and the present gabled roof without a steeple on the front was constructed. In 1873, when it became apparent that the church spire would not be replaced, the vestry erected a plain Belfry, or Campanile, or Glockenturm, apart from the church in the graveyard. Until the fall of 2009, one of the finest-toned (C sharp), 1850 “Black Meneely” bells, donated by Silas Wood, was hanging in the Campanile (Belfry) for all those years.
We the People of St. Peter’s Church, aware of our history, have during the last six months, 2009-2010, reconstructed a belfry, restored the bell and its frame, placed it in the belfry and put an empty cross on top of it all. The cross, a sign of our heavenly Father’s love for us, is also a sign of suffering and victory over death. A sign that Jesus died, He is risen and He will come again! The cross of Christ on top of the new Belfry from which the bell is calling the community for worship, opens the doors for all people seeking the Lord.
NOTE: St. Peter’s celebrates its 175th Anniversary this year!
Is Your Name Here?
If you have contributed to the belfry, but your name is not on the following list, please contact Clarence Kuntsmann to be included.
If you would like to be on this list; either your name, anonymously, and/or in memoriam to someone you love, then please make a donation to the belfry by August 31. We will ‘close the books’ on donations the end of August.
Your vestry will decide where on the church a plaque with the names of those who donated to the belfry project will be located. We hope to have the plaque up by the end of September.
Contributors to the Bell Tower as of 15 June 2010
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Allwine |
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Anderson, J |
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Beck |
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Bowen |
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Bryan |
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Carpenter |
Given by Bill & Phyllis Sue Carpenter in Memory of the Gouldman Families |
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Coleman, Mary F. |
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Davis, C |
in memory of Conway Davis |
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Davis, G |
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Davis, J |
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Duke [Pyle-Duke] |
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Fall |
In memory of Ralph and Elizabeth Stambaugh Fall |
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Fannon, D |
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Fannon, E |
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Fisher |
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Harrison |
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Heinback |
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Henderson |
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Hicks, Thomas |
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Key |
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Kunstmann |
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Linne von Berg |
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Long, IV |
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Long, Nancy |
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Madison, Jim |
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Mahoney |
In memory of Tom Mahoney |
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Muhly |
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Newman, Mike |
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Poland |
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Segar |
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Smith, Wm |
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St Mary’s ECW |
Jack Gilliland Memorial |
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St Peters ECW |
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Symonds |
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Wall |
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Watson, Katryn |
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Wisdom |
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Woodruff |
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A Stewardship Thought by Clarence
Summertime, a time for picnics and vacations, and for the children it is a break from the school routine, a time to have fun. Perhaps there will be a visit with the relatives or off to camp, either way it is a time to be away. Many of us still look at summer in this way, that of “getting away” for summer enjoyment.
Borrowing some words from Erma Bombeck, “Let’s cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us. Let’s think about what God HAS blessed us with. And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally. I hope you all have a blessed day.”
VESTRY UPDATE FROM FORMER JUNIOR WARDEN
Dear Friends in Christ,
1. Below, please find a status report on our various ongoing maintenance/improvement projects:
a) Belfry completed, grounds and fencing restored.
b) Bell tower in graveyard painted, off white/brown top, completed.
c) Realign and level bricks of church walkway and front porch, completed.
d) Installation of metal grills in church wall ventilation holes, completed.
e) Rear graveyard fencing, including gate installation, completed.
f) Storm door installation in Fall Hall (front and rear), and Sunday School House, completed.
g) Custom made door for Church Sacristy, rear door, could not be installed because of small low roof overhang. This small roof overhang could be moved upward to enable
opening and closing of door. The custom door is currently stored in our bell tower.
2. Plans call for my meeting with the contractors at the church for a final walk through and preparation of final billing. I also plan to discuss and get a cost estimate for the raising of
the back door roof which would enable the storm door installation per para 1. f. above.
3. As always, I welcome your directions and/or comments.
Blessings, Helmut
ECW Announces:
September 25th Yard Sale
New Altar Flower Chart Posted in Sacristy
Halloween Costume Party October 30th
VILLAGE DINNER –JULY 7TH (Complete dinner still only $7)
Barbeque Chicken Potato Salad Cole Slaw Tomatoes Lemon Lush
ALTAR GUILD WORKSHOP AND DINNER
Crystal Pannell led a workshop on proper preparation of the Altar for worship on June 11th. She began with this prayer:
Holy God, in the quiet of this place,
Let the preparation that I make for worship
Reflect the beauty and order of your creation
So that those who come to praise you
Will find your presence and strength in their lives
Through Christ, our Lord. Amen
Do you know these key terms?
Cruet corporal chalice purificator paten host pall burse
If you have questions, Crystal is always available to help. Her handouts were most informative and a copy is posted in the sacristy. A wonderful Italian dinner was served at the conclusion. Thanks Crystal!
Health Matters: the health benefits of laughter
A joyful belly-laugh can exercise thoroughly the muscles, nerves and organs of the main torso. If you were able to sustain a belly-laugh for one full hour, you could laugh off as many as 500 calories! While we laugh, our whole body is exercised; after we finish laughing, our whole body begins to "lighten up" during an "after-glow" period in which we relax muscle tension, reduce stress in the nerves, massage the lungs, restore a full and flowing breathing pattern and gently expand our circulation once more.
When we laugh we …
– Alleviate depression;
– Lower our blood pressure;
– Promote relaxation;
– Reduce stress;
– Increase the oxygen level in our blood, giving us more energy;
– Increase the endorphin activity in our body resulting in a sense of well being;
– Reduce boredom;
– Are more socially attractive – people enjoy being with those who laugh easily and often; and
– Increase our enjoyment of life.
Laughter has been called social glue because it bonds us to the people we laugh with. The message is clear: To live better … laugh more.
If it feels good to laugh then laugh to feel good.
In Proverbs 17:22 it is written, "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones".
Note: The May ECW Spring Open Board Meeting in Glen Allen featured several workshops one of which was “The Benefits of Laughter” by Dr. Inez Tuck. Eunice
175th ANNIVERSARY UPDATE
The Anniversary Committee is proud to feature our Steven’s Tracker Organ this month. The beautiful sounds you hear each Sunday come from an organ which was custom built and installed in 1850 by George Stevens of Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is a pine cased Gothic model with rosewood trim. There are 382 pipes of wood and metal.
In May of 2000 an organ concert by Thomas Marshall of Williamsburg was held at St. Peter’s to celebrate the refurbishing and refinishing of the organ by Dennis Stevens of Rappahannock Organ Co. This was after the ceiling collapsed in the spring of 1999 and the organ loft was enlarged and the railing raised and stabilized during the repair. Miss Nell Clark was church organist at that time.
It is hoped that Tom Marshall will return to St. Peters in October for a concert in celebration of St. Peter’s Anniversary. Tom is a charter member of the Southeastern Historical Keyboard Society. He is organist for the Williamsburg Presbyterian Church and is a member of the faculty of the College of William and Mary.